342 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the well-known commission merchant of Memphis, owner oF the ex- 

 tensive Cedar Gap Fruit Farm. Valuable material has also been col- 

 lected from the horticultural reports of Missouri and other states^ 

 This acknowledgment is made at the outset in order that you may take 

 this paper at its full value, as mainly a condensation of what I have 

 gathered from the high authorities named. I will first refer to our 

 fruits separately, in the order in which they are marked, and will fol- 

 low with such matter as relates more or less to all. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



Pick as soon as evenly colored, just before fully ripe, always with 

 stems on. Pinch off stems with the nail, about an inch from the berry.. 

 Carefully avoid bruising, which causes fruit to bleed when it soon 

 sours and is valueless. Never pick when berries are wet or soft ^ 

 keep them constantly cool after picking. Pick only berries of uniform 

 ripeness ; two or three green, over-ripe or imperfect berries will render 

 a box of otherwise choice fruit unsalable. Go over the rows at least 

 every day, whatever the quantity of ripe berries obtained and what- 

 ever you do with the fruit; keep overripe berries off your plants. 

 Pick in two grades, and don't ship the second; a good picker will soon 

 learn to grade properly. Turn out a box now and then as brought in by 

 pickers, and discharge any picker detected a second time in careless 

 picking. 



You cannot maintain your correct standard otherwise. Fill boxes 

 as full as possible and do not fear rounding up ; the fruit settles in 

 transit and a little pressure on top berries is preferable to the shaking 

 up from slack boxes. Leave no space between top tier and cover ; a 

 layer of leaves protects and freshens the berries, especially if shipping 

 small lots by express. Use only new, perfect boxes and crates, 24 

 boxes to the crate, and be sure that they are dry. The Leslie box is 

 recDmmended. Stencil handsomely and cleanly. Always use tickets,, 

 or card and punch, for pickers, and, in large fields, work them in squads* 



The strawberry is the fruit of the million and constantly becoming 

 more popular. The grower who can market choice, uniform strawber- 

 ries not expensively raised will always find a profit, and the means of 

 doing this cannot be too closely studied. 



Pick as soon as well colored. Always leave stems on the fruit 

 and handle by them. Ship in quart boxes same as berries; grape 

 baskets will do if not to go too far ; fill top of boxes so stems are not. 

 exposed. If very fine, it pays to layer the fruit; assort carefully. 



